PBDDET Program Structure

Students are required to complete eighteen credits (six courses) in the PBDDET.

Program Status

To maintain program status, students must complete six credits of course work during each academic year (September 1 to August 31). In core courses, the lowest acceptable grade is B-. Students who receive a grade lower than B-, or receive more than one grade of B- or lower, may be required to withdraw from the program.

In elective courses, the lowest acceptable grade is C+. Students who receive a grade lower than C+, or receive more than one grade of C+ or lower, may be required to withdraw from the program.

Residency

To meet the residency requirements, students must complete a minimum of three courses (nine credits), including the two core courses, through Athabasca University.

Relationship to MEd Program

Students completing the PBDDET may apply for admission to the MEd program. If admitted, credits completed by the student towards the PBDDET will be accepted for credit towards the MEd degree in accordance with the MEd program regulations.

Students considering the diploma should be aware that admission to the MEd program is highly competitive. PBDDET graduates must compete with other qualified applicants for admission to the degree program.

Courses

PBDDET students take their courses alongside MEd students, and are required to complete the same activities and achieve the same standard. Courses are designed to encourage self-study either at home or in the workplace. Students will be supplied with a basic course package of print and other media, if required, and access to a course website for each course. Students are expected to use computer mediated communications for the following purposes:

• instructor and student-to-student interactions in computer conferences;
• e-mail, both within and outside of the course structure;
• file transfer or file attachment of assignments and feedback between instructor and students and between students on joint projects; and
• accessing electronic databases (for example, Athabasca University’s Library).

Required Core Courses

Prescribed Options (minimum of three required)

Students may choose one additional course from the MEd catalogue.

Note: PBDDET students are not permitted to register in MDDE courses MDDE 690 or higher. Students should be aware that some courses in the MEd catalogue are currently only offered once a year. Generally, core courses should be taken first in the program (particularly if the student has limited distance education background).

PBDDET courses are generally available as follows:

Fall term: 601*, 603* 604, 610, 621. Winter term: 601*, 603*, 604, 620. Spring/Summer term: 601*, 603*, 604, 615, 620, 621.

* Required courses. Refer to the course list in the MEd program. Permission of the program director is required before courses are taken for PBDDET program credit outside Athabasca University.

Advanced Standing

Some students may have completed course work at other post-secondary institutions that is applicable to the PBDDET program. After admission, a committee will review such work to determine if the student should be awarded advanced standing, and whether "not to take" restrictions for equivalent specific courses in the PBDDET program should be imposed. Students seeking advanced standing will be required to submit official transcripts (if these were not submitted in support of their application for admission) and the appropriate evaluation fee to the PBDDET program director for review.

Students will also be required to submit detailed course descriptions for such courses. Failure to supply the transcript or detailed course descriptions (if required) shall result in no advanced standing being awarded. Students will not be awarded advanced standing for courses previously used towards the granting of another credential. Contact the Centre for Distance Education for more information.

Transfer Credit

Students enrolled in the PBDDET program may take courses from other post-secondary institutions in fulfilment of the program requirements, provided such courses are applicable to Athabasca University’s PBDDET program.

Students wishing to take courses from other institutions must submit

• a Letter of Permission Request Form and applicable fee
• a written request, and
• detailed course outlines

to the program director for review. If approved, the Centre for Distance Education will issue a Letter of Permission. To allow for mailing time, requests for a Letter of Permission should be made at least one month before the registration deadline at the institution where the student will be taking the course. Upon completion of the course, the student must submit an official transcript to the Centre for Distance Education in order to obtain credit for the course.

Program Delivery

The program is offered during three semesters each year. The fall semester begins the second Monday in September. The winter semester begins the second Monday in January. The spring/summer session begins the last Monday in April. Each semester is 13 weeks in length. All course work should be completed during the semester periods. Extensions to these timelines may be granted, if circumstances warrant, through the granting of a course extension (refer to Course-Related Procedures).